Folsom

Looking for a year-round Northern California dog-friendly destination with fun activities for the entire family? Spend a weekend in Folsom exploring with your dog on miles of paved walking, hiking and cycling trails along shady wooded corridors and scenic waterways.

Ideally located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe and close to the Sierra foothills wine country, Folsom could be described as the Mecca of Northern California outdoor recreation. Folsom is most recognized worldwide through Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" and historic Folsom Prison.

There's lots for you and your family to do. The community hosts fun events such as the Folsom Pro Rodeo and Folsom LIVE!, as well as Folsom Premium Outlets and historical sightseeing.

History, a vibrant dining scene and outdoor recreation options galore beckon in this gateway to California Gold Country. Folsom’s nucleus is its handsomely revitalized Old Town district, centered on Sutter Street and great for an anytime stroll or sit-down with your four-legged friend. more »

Visitors know Folsom for the song made famous by the Man in Black, but no one sings the blues once they get to this historic little city at the western gateway to California Gold Country. Folsom makes a great launching pad for forays into El Dorado County wine country and the Apple Hill region, where many dog-friendly adventures await. But it also has much to offer DogTrekkers in its own right—including a new, 2.5-mile trail and sculpture park named for Johnny Cash.

The Johnny Cash Trail connects to an extensive network of paved paths shared by cyclists, joggers and dog-walkers, while just outside town, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, which includes the separate Lake Natoma, have their own sets of pathways along with miles of shoreline where Sparky can swim and fetch sticks to his heart’s content. And that’s not to mention the American River Bike Trail hugging the river of the same name for 32 miles, all the way to downtown Sacramento. more »

Yes, country legend Johnny Cash put Folsom on America's musical map—and soon there will be a 2.5-mile, Class I bike trail named in his honor. It will cross Folsom Prison property and connect to the miles of existing trails that help make this vibrant little city at the western gateway to California Gold Country such a recreational magnet for DogTrekkers. more »

Summertime and the livin’ is easy…as long as you’re on a lake. Heading up to Gold Country, you’ll find lots of places to dip your paws no matter which road you take. Here are some of our favorite splash spots in the Sierra foothills. more »

Johnny Cash may have put Folsom on America's musical map, but visitors don't sing the blues once they experience the vitality of this historic little city at the western gateway to California Gold Country.

DogTrekkers visiting Folsom will find more than 32 miles of paved, multi-use trails for cyclists, walkers and joggers, including many segments that intersect with open space corridors, creeks and greenbelts. To get a feel for what’s out there, stroll a section of the Humbug-Willow Creek trail system, which meanders 15 miles through a variety of terrain. Or, follow the American River shoreline along a segment of the 32-mile American River Parkway connecting Folsom with the Old Sacramento historic district. more »